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Tradition and New - The Art of Landscape Photography by Chinese Photographers Photo Exhibition today was officially opened by the Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, and other distinguished guests. The Exhibition will showcase up to 320 pieces of photos taken by approximately 300 master Chinese photographers from around the world.

Accompanying Mr Tung to officiate at the Opening Ceremony were Mr Wang Feng Chao, Assistant Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR; Ms Lolly Chiu, Acting Director of Leisure and Cultural Services; Mr Chan Fook Lai and Mr Yang Shao Ming, Honourable President and President of the Society of Worldwide Ethnic Chinese Photographers; and Mr Ivan Poon, Managing Director of Kodak (Hong Kong) Limited.

In his opening remarks, Mr Yang Shao Ming said that with a long tradition of reverence towards nature in Chinese culture, landscape photography represents a new popular form of art to reflect the national culture. He hoped that the development of the landscape photography would bring a better understanding of the Chinese cultural values to the world. He was also pleased that the exhibition is held in Hong Kong, which is the crossroads of the East and the West, enabling it to reach a wider audience. He believed that the exhibition would demonstrate Hong Kong as a fertile land of cultural fusion.

Since its establishment in 1994, the Society has been working hard to promote Chinese photographers and to serve as a conduit of cultural exchange. In concluding his speech, Mr Yang acknowledged the generous support that has been granted by the public to the Society and hoped that members would continue to work together to advance the exchange and cultural understanding.

In an effort to further promote landscape photography, the organizers have arranged an autograph session and a seminar titled Conducting Photography in Northwest China on 26 August (Sunday) at the exhibition venue.

The autograph session will be hosted by master photographers Mr Chan Fook Lai, Mr Xu Xiao Bing, Mr Yang Shao Ming, Mr Li Yuan, Mr Weng Ting Hua and Professor Raymond Clark President of the Royal Photographic Society of England at the Exhibition Gallery of the Hong Kong Central Library between 11.30 am and 12 noon.

The seminar titled Conducting Photography in Northwest China will be hosted by famous photographer Mr Wang Jian Jun. Mr Wang is a world-renowned landscape photographer who will share his experience in doing landscape photography and how to turn imagination into image. The seminar hour is from 2:00 to 3 pm in Activity Room No. 2 on Ground Floor of the Hong Kong Central Library.

The photo exhibition is jointly presented by the Society of Worldwide Ethnic Chinese Photographers and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. It is opened free-of-charge to the public between 10 am and 8 pm daily at the Exhibition Gallery of the Hong Kong Central Library at 66 Causeway Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong.

For enquiries, please call either the Society of Worldwide Ethnic Chinese Photographers on 2858 7175 or the Leisure and Cultural Services Department hotline on 2180 8188.

End/ Saturday, August 25, 2001

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